‘Do you need any players?’ Todd Carney comes out of retirement, helps Byron Bay break 340-day drought

After starting the day cleaning out his shed, an ex-NRL star made a snap decision that helped his former bush footy side break a 340-day drought.

Todd Carney came out of retirement to help Byron Bay snap a 340-day drought. Picture: DC Sports Photography

Todd Carney was cleaning out his shed on Sunday morning when a thought sprung to mind.

Having retired from playing local footy at the end of last year, he saw that his old club, the Byron Bay Red Devils, were playing at home in the 2:45 afternoon slot.

So he picked up the phone and made a call that not only dramatically changed the nature of his Sunday, but also the club’s season so far.

“I’ve been to watch them a few times this year and had noticed that they hadn’t been going great, that the coach had left, so I rang the president Mick Foster and said, ‘Do you need any players?’”

Still slightly unsure whether someone was playing a practical joke on him, Foster said given that his young guns had lost five straight games to kick off the season, they could certainly do with an extra body, and especially one of Carney’s calibre.

Carney played for the Red Devils between 2019 and 2024. Photo: Ursula Bentley@CapturedAus

So Carney jumped online, registered to play, threw his boots in the car and took off down the highway from his Gold Coast home to Byron Bay’s Red Devil Park.

In what was a surprise to teammates, opponents and fans alike, Carney – who spent six seasons at the club between 2019 and 2024 – came out of bush footy retirement and played a key role in the Red Devils’ 24-14 victory over the Tweed Coast Raiders in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League, better known as the NRRRL.

The win snapped an 11-game losing streak that stretched back to June 30 last year, with the team breaking a 337-day drought.

“It was good to see the boys win and help to lift the spirits back in the club because it’s been pretty quiet for them of late,” said Carney.

Despite not having played since August last year, the former Dally M Medal winner made a seamless return in the number six jersey, guiding his teammates round the park, kicking them out of trouble and even laying on an assist midway through the second half to put Byron up 24-0 and seal the win.

“To go down there and just play a game is special for me because I said at the start of the year that I wouldn’t play any,” he said.

“It was good to be out there. I always enjoy footy, I’m involved with footy every day working with Keebra Park, so I get enough of it. But it is different when you’re out there playing, and obviously after a win.

“When people ask me what I miss about rugby league, I always say that it’s the feeling of running out and having a game. And then obviously when you come back into the sheds after winning a game it’s an unbelievable high.”

Byron Bay won its first game since June 30 last year. Picture: DC Sports Photography

And despite the high of playing and winning, the next morning reminded the Carney about the other side of rugby league.

“I’d play until the day I die if I could, but I definitely know that my days of playing consistent games are numbered. I turned 39 on Monday, so I woke up on my 39th birthday and definitely felt all of 39, that’s for sure,” he laughed.

“They’ve got a bye and there’s no footy this weekend, which actually gives me time to recover because my knee is quite sore and I’ve got a bit of rib cartilage (pain) – the joys of footy.”

As for plans for the rest of the season, while stopping short of making a permanent return, Carney hasn’t shut the door turning out in front of the Red Devils’ faithful again.

“I enjoy it but I’m so busy with my family and obviously with work that I probably couldn’t commit to it at the moment.

“But I’ll definitely try and have a game here and there for them and be around the group, and if they do need players I’m sure they’ll give me a call.

“But it was just one of those things: I wanted to get down there, have a game and help the boys out.”